Savannah Christian (13-1)
The skinny: Wesleyan coach Frank Pridgen, whose team lost to Savannah Christian 28-13 in the semifinals, breaks down the Raiders' offense and defense:
- Offense: Their offensive line is technically very disciplined. Their low pad level and their explosiveness off the ball is some of the best I've ever seen. They're very methodical.They're very content to get 3 or 4 yards a play. They really shortened the game against us. They are the epitome of the ball-control offense.
- Defense: "Their defense is what has gotten them to this point. The linebackers are excellent, and they're not going to line up and allow a team to get a presnap read. You'd better be as mentally sharp on the offensive line as you are physically capable. They've got a pass rush that's some of the best I've seen.
AJC rating: 38
- Run [9]: (265 per game) Four runners have over 300 yards, led by Andrew Moore (1,313 yards, 8 TDs) and Will Austin (1,000, 9 TDs)
- Pass [6]: (65 per game) The Raiders throw fewer than six times per game, but they average a TD every 10 attempts.
- Vs. run [9]: (42 per game) LBs Eric Wickham and Tanner Burch have combined for 133 tackles, 31 of them for negative yardage.
- Vs. pass [8]: (89 per game) Led by Austin, the Raiders average an interception per game.
- Special teams [6]: Mac Miller hasn't gotten a lot of work in the punting game, and his longest field goal is 34 yards.
Need-to-know basis
- The history: Settled in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, Savannah is Georgia's first city and is known as America's first planned city. Oglethorpe designed the city in a collection of 24 grid squares, 22 of which are still in existence. Savannah Christian Preparatory School was founded in 1951 as Evangelical Bible Institute. SCPS alum Kenneth Purcell is a pit-crew member for Jimmie Johnson's NASCAR racing team.
- Last year: Savannah Christian lost to Wilcox County 30-21 in the state semifinals.
Starting lineup
Offense
QB -- 16 Harrison Curry, Sr., 5-10, 185
FB - 6 Andrew Moore, Sr., 5-8, 175
HB - 1 Lanard Govan, Jr. 6-4, 225
HB - 20 Will Austin, Jr., 6-1, 190
WR - 17 Taylor Ivey, Sr., 6-2, 180
TE - 42 Eric Wickham, Sr., 6-2, 235
C - 63 John Hosey, Sr., 5-7, 160
RG - 52 Caleb Womble, Sr., 6-1, 275
LG - 76 Josh Garland, Jr., 6-1, 285
RT - 64 Josh Gay, Jr., 6-3, 265
LT - 65 Phillip Abshire, Jr., 6-0, 200
PK - 7 Mac Miller, Jr., 5-7, 160
Defense
NG - 77 DeAngelo Brown, Jr., 6-0, 280
RT - 72 Cooper Lemonds, Sr., 6-1, 210
LT - 80 Eric Davis, Jr., 6-1, 190
DE - 56 Charles Morton, Sr., 6-0, 205
DE - 4 Russell Wilson, Jr., 6-0, 195
LB - 42 Eric Wickham, Sr., 6-2, 235
LB - 33 Tanner Burch, Sr., 6-2, 220
S - 9 Kenny Katzman, Sr., 6-1, 190
S - 1 Lanard Govan, Jr. 6-4, 225
CB - 5 Jalen Myrick, Soph., 6-0, 175
CB - 20 Will Austin, Jr., 6-1, 190
P - 7 Mac Miller, Jr., 5-7, 160
2010 results
8/27 McIntosh Co. Acad. W 27-6
9/3 Wheeler County W 14-7
9/10 Jenkins County W 35-7
9/17 Effingham County W 28-7
10/1 Claxton W 41-0
10/8 Savannah Country Day W 27-12
10/15 Metter W 35-7
10/22 Calvary Day L 0-6
10/29 Bryan County W 35-7
11/5 Montgomery County W 42-6
11/12 Mitchell County W 17-7
11/19 Charlton County W 37-6
11/26 Lincoln County W 17-14
12/3 Wesleyan W 28-13
****
Clinch County (14-0)
The skinny: Eagle's Landing Christian coach Jonathan Gess, whose team lost to Clinch County 34-27 in the third round of the playoffs, breaks down the Panthers' offense and defense:
- Offense: What was so challenging with them is they have three wide receivers that can fly. Their quarterback is an athlete. He'd be one of the best tailbacks in the state if he was a tailback. You can stop them and get them to a third-and-9, and they'll still beat you. I would say their offensive line is not great, but they don't have to be."
- Defense: "They've got 11 guys faster than your fastest. We were fast, but they have so much speed. They're not big. They don't intimidate you with their size or anything like that. Their defensive end ran down [ELCA running back] Avery Walls. When their defensive end can outrun him, it's a long night. They have only three guys that go both ways."
AJC rating: 39
- Run [9]: (268 per game) Trey Dorsey and Anthony McNeil both average more than 100 yards per game.
- Pass [7]: (102 per game) Dorsey has 1,268 passing yards and 14 touchdowns (seven interceptions) in 114 attempts.
- Vs. run [9]: (68 per game) College prospects Trey Richardson and Zach Thomas have 175 tackles between them.
- Vs. pass [8]: (89 per game) The Panthers have returned five interceptions for touchdowns. Damion Magby has eight picks and the team has 21 total.
- Special teams [6]: Fred Tiller averaged 34 yards per punt.
Need-to-know basis
- The history: Georgia's third-largest county, Clinch was formed in 1850 from parts of Lowndes, Ware and Appling counties. Actor Ossie Davis was born in the Clinch County town of Cogdell. Clinch has a long history of timber and turpentine production and is home to more than 30 beekeepers and 30,000 cultivated beehives.
- Last year: Clinch County lost to Wilcox County 20-14 in the state semifinals.
Starting lineup
Offense
QB -- 23 Trey Dorsey, Jr., 5-9, 190*
RB -- 25 Anthony McNeil, Sr. 5-9, 195*
FB -- 6 Trey Richardson, Sr., 5-11, 230
TE -- 11 Callen Windham, Sr., 6-4, 215
SE -- 8 Fred Tiller, Jr., 6-1, 174
FL -- 13 Damion Magby, Sr., 5-11, 170
C -- 75 Bobby Pittman, Sr., 6-4, 210
RG -- 61 Khardious Cleveland, Jr., 5-10, 225
LG -- 55 Ernest Taylor, Sr., 5-10, 200
T -- 72 Dereck Touchton, Soph., 5-11, 240
T- 56 Shawn Andrews, Sr., 5-11, 255
PK -- 3 Dalton Bennett, Jr., 5-11, 185
Defense
NG -- 35 James Landrum, Jr., 5-9, 195
DT -- 56 Shawn Andrews, Sr., 5-11, 255
DT -- 42 Trevor Posley, Sr., 6-2, 195
DE -- 3 Dalton Bennett, Jr., 5-11, 185
DE -- 5 Kenneth White, Jr., 5-11, 180
LB -- 6 Trey Richardson, Sr., 5-11, 230*
LB -- 10 Zach Thomas, Sr., 6-1, 220*
CB -- 12 Elprit Kelsaw, Sr., 5-11, 175
CB -- 25 Anthony McNeil, Sr., 5-9, 195
S -- 8 Fred Tiller, Jr., 6-1, 174
S -- 7 Rashad Grant, Jr., 5-10, 170
P -- 8 Fred Tiller, Jr., 6-1, 174
* FBS (formerly Division I-A) recruits
2010 results
8/27 Pierce County W 41-28
9/3 Brantley County W 48-27
9/10 Wilcox County W 33-14
9/17 Bacon County W 51-7
9/24 Irwin County W 47-0
10/9 Turner County W 47-14
10/15 Lanier County W 35-7
10/22 Telfair County W 55-0
10/29 Atkinson County W 63-0
11/5 Charlton County W 33-7
11/12 Greenville W 34-6
11/19 Miller County W 35-14
11/26 ELCA W 34-27
12/3 Wilkinson County W 35-14
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